# SBIR / STTR #DAF27BZ01-NV002

SBIR research and development for an airborne high-energy laser beam-control subsystem (OPALS)

**Buyer:** United States Air Force
**Posted:** October 09, 2026
**Respond By:** November 25, 2026
**Identifier:** DAF27BZ01-NV002
**NAICS:** 541715

The U.S. Air Force is seeking small-business research and development proposals for an airborne high-energy laser beam-control subsystem called OPALS.
- **Government buyer:** Department of the Air Force, within the Department of War’s SBIR program; the topic is associated with Air Force Materiel Command and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).
- **Opportunity:** Optimally Packaged Assembly for Laser Systems (OPALS), topic DAF27BZ01-NV002, under the 2027 DoW SBIR Broad Agency Announcement.
- **Requested work:** Research, design, and development of a compact, rugged, environmentally stable optical beam-control subsystem for airborne high-energy laser systems. No commercial OEM, vendor, purchasable product, part number, or unit quantity is specified.
- **Development phases:**
  - Phase I: Develop and model a concept, estimate size and weight, and conduct design trade studies.
  - Phase II: Build, integrate, demonstrate, and test a prototype using a government-furnished laser of up to 20 kW; conduct ground and airborne laboratory testing and deliver the system and documentation to AFRL.
  - Phase III: Scale the subsystem for operational aircraft integration and a laser of at least 300 kW, with AFRL and a transition partner.
- **Notable technical requirements:** Favor platform-agnostic concepts where feasible; emphasize packaging, ruggedness, environmental stability, and beam-control performance. Aircraft outer-moldline and turret design are outside the topic’s focus.
- **Program requirements and timing:** The announcement seeks proposals from eligible small businesses. CMMC Level 2 (Self) is specified. General SBIR guidance describes Phase I as typically 6–12 months and Phase II as typically 24 months; no topic-specific start or end dates are provided.

### Description

This is a pre-release SBIR topic under the DoW SBIR 2027 BAA, solicitation 27.BZ, for the USAF. The topic is identified as Optimally Packaged Assembly for Laser Systems (OPALS); further details on the scope of work are not included in the provided source. The response deadline is December 25, 2026. The source lists CMMC Level 2 (Self) and provides topic contacts Arthur Hassall and Stephen Stumpf.

[View original listing](https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/)